Smith Micro has officially launched Manga Studio 5 EX, a new edition of its comics illustration software. The EX releases are more professionally-oriented than their non-EX counterparts. In the case of Studio 5, the core EX addition is a multi-page story layout module, which let people organize complete comic books.

Layouts can accommodate specifications for Western or Japanese comics, and other formatting needs like two-page spreads. Completed projects can be exported to formats like TIFF, JPEG, and Photoshop. Other 5 EX additions include updated text settings, including adjustments to spacing, font-mixing, and anti-aliasing. EX is also required for backwards-compatibility with files and projects and Manga Studio 4 Debut or EX.
Studio 5 EX costs $300 new, or $150 as an upgrade from either version of Studio 4. Owners of the regular edition of Studio 5 can upgrade to EX for $100.